Operation Hawkeye: K920 - honoring Special Ops Forces MWDs and their handlers

K920 is an “on demand” 3-point shooting challenge launched by OPERATION HAWKEYE to elevate awareness regarding the service and sacrifice of fallen Special Operations forces (SOF) military working dogs and their handlers in honor of U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class John Douangdara and a brave military dog, a Belgian Malinois named Bart, both of whom were killed on August 6, 2011 when the Taliban shot down their CH-47 Chinook helicopter, call sign EXTORTION 17, in Afghanistan. In addition to Douangdara and Bart, 29 other American warriors died that day, along with seven Afghan commandos and a civilian interpreter, in what remains the largest single-day loss of life in Operation Enduring Freedom, and in the history of U.S. Naval Special Warfare. Douangdara, of South Sioux City, Nebraska, enlisted in February 2003. His initial service school training occurred at Norfolk, Virginia, before he joined the security detachment at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, in June 2003. He later moved to Naval Submarine Base New London, Connecticut in August 2006 before joining his East Coast-based SEAL team in January 2008. Douangdara’s decorations include the Bronze Star with ‘V’ device; Joint Service Commendation Medal with ‘V’ device; Army Commendation Medal; Presidential Unit Citation; Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Sea Service Deployment Ribbon; three Overseas Service Ribbons; Rifle Marksmanship Medal and the Pistol Marksmanship Medal.